The California Assembly voted to raise the smoking age to 21. The bill could pass in the state senate and get on Gov. Jerry Brown’s Desk. KCRA’s David Bienick has reaction from lawmakers and smokers.

The California Assembly voted to raise the smoking age to 21. The bill could pass in the state senate and get on Gov. Jerry Brown’s Desk. KCRA’s David Bienick has reaction from lawmakers and smokers.

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Updated: 7:24 PM PST Mar 3, 2016

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WEBVTT DAVID BIENICK IS LIVE AT THE STATE CAPITAL WITH REACTION. DAVID: SIMILAR SMOKING LEGISLATION WAS TRIED AND DIED AT THE STATE CAPITOL LAST YEAR. NOW IT IS BACK. TODAY YOU PAST ONE HOUSE. IT IS LIKELY TO PASS THE OTHER AND WILL SOON BE ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK. AMONG THE PEOPLE GATHERED UNDER THE SMOKING TENT IS A STUDENT. HOW OLD ARE YOU? >> 20. DAVID: HE SAYS RAISING THE SMOKING H2 21 WILL HAVE THE OPPOSITE OF ITS INTENDED EFFECT. IF YOU PUT A RESTRICTION ON SOMETHING, IT MAKES IT MORE DESIRABLE. YOU SAY CANNOT DO SOMETHING, YOU WANT TO DO IT THAT MUCH MORE. DAVI THE ASSEMBLY APPROVED THE SMOKING AGE RAISED BY 46-26. IF THE BILL IS APPROVED, CALIFORNIA WILL FOLLOW HAWAII WHICH BECAME THE FIRST STATE TO RAISE THE SMOKING AGE TO 21. >> WE COVERED MANY, MANY TOPICS TODAY FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES. I THINK WE FEEL GOOD TO BE AGAIN LEADING THE CHARGE. DAVI SUPPORTERS, MOSTLY DEMOCRATS, CLAIM THE AGE RAISE WILL SAVE THOUSANDS OF LIVES AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN STATE HEALTH CARE SPENDING. OPPONENTS, MOSTLY REPUBLICANS, SAY IT IS AN ATTACK ON PERSONAL FREEDOM. >> YOU CAN SIGN UP TO INTO THE ARMED FORCES, TO FIGHT AND DIE FOR YOUR COUNTRY, AT THE AGE OF 18, 19 2 BUT YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BUY A PACK OF CIGARETTES. AT SOME POINT COMMON SENSE HAS TO RULE THE DAY. DAVI WHOEVER, THIS BILL DOES INCLUDE ONE EXCEPTION -- F MILITARY MEMBERS. PEOPLE WHO PRESENT AND ACTIVE MILITARY I.D. WILL STI BE ABLE

Young smoker: Raising smoking age will have opposite effect

The California Assembly voted to raise the smoking age to 21. The bill could pass in the state senate and get on Gov. Jerry Brown’s Desk. KCRA’s David Bienick has reaction from lawmakers and smokers.